Shoe tongue



May 20, 1941 G; H. GILLIS 2,242,353

SHOE ToNGUg:

Filed sept. 19, 1940 Patented May 20, 1941 .UNITEDv lSTATES PATENT CFFICE SHOE-TON GUE George H. Gillis, Fitchburg, Mass.

Application September 19, 1940, Serial No. 357,429

5 Claims.

between the edges of the quarters, resulting ir the edges of these quarters causing discomfort;l

to the wearer.

In accordance with the present invention, however, the tongue is so constructed that it is shaped to the general contour of the instep, being concaved both longitudinally and laterally, and is provided with a natural fold line centrally lengthwise which allows the side portions to lie naturally beneath the shoe quarters which are drawn together thereover as the shoe is laced.

For a complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a disassembled perspective View of the various parts of the tongue.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the lining parts secured together.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the tongue assembled, the outer layers and the bridging piece being detached and turned down to expose the upper ends of the lining pieces.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, at I is indicated a pair of lining parts preferably formed of some soft material such as felt. Each of these parts is provided with a concave edge 2 and a convex edge 3. The convex edge joins the concave edge 2 at the upper end of the lining piece while the lower edge of the lining piece is formed by an edge 4 which may be arranged substantially at right angles to the adjacent portions of the inner and outer edges 2 and 3. The edges 2 are arranged in butting relation as shown in Figure 2 and are secured together as by a line of zigzag stitching 5. This produces a lining structure having lan inherent curvature both lengthwise and laterally. Applied to this lining are a pair of outer pieces l. These are cut to the same general shape as the lining pieces with oppositely disposed concave and convex side edges 8 and 9. These outside members 'I are preferably of leather and their inner concave edges 8 are preferably finished, as by skiving, cementing and folding, as shown. These outer pieces 'I are assembled with their inner edges 8 spaced apart somewhat and they are secured together by means of a bridging strip I0 to which they are secured as' by lines of stitching II. The strip I0 is preferably made of elastic and preferably of two way stretch elastic. Where it is of single way stretch, the stretching direction is longitudinal. The outer parts 'I with the bridging strip so secured thereto are then superposed on the lining parts I and secured thereto as by the lines of side stitching I2 and the strip IIJ mayl be cemented to the lining pieces. Preferably the lining is somewhat wider than the outer portion and extends somewhat higher in order to avoid the possibility of the outer edge of the relatively heavy outer leather from engaging with the foot, the felt -lining covering this edge por'- tion. The lower straight edge of the tongue at the lining edges 4 may be stitched into the shoe in the usual manner.

The relatively soft lining is held in position in the shoe by the relatively stiff outer members which conform naturally to the curvature of the instep of the foot, the bridging strip between the outer pieces 'l forming a natural line of transverse fold defining the central line'of the instep and causing the members 'I to dispose themselves naturally at either side of this central line. The outer members present sufcient stiffnessv to prevent the relatively soft lining from becoming crumpled or folded and cause it to lie smoothly over the instep of the foot.

From the foregoing description of an embodiment of this invention, it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shoe tongue comprising a lining including a pair of longitudinally extending parts having confronting concave edges secured together, and a pair of longitudinally extending outer parts having concave spaced adjacent edges and overlying and secured to said lining parts.

2. A shoe tongue comprising a lining including a pair of longitudinally extending parts having confronting concave edges secured together, a pair of longitudinally extending outer parts having concave spaced adjacent edges and overlying and secured to said lining parts, and a longitudinal cover strip overlying the secured. edge portions of said lining parts and beneath the outer parts.

zigzag stitches, a pair of longitudinally extending outer parts having concave confronting finished` adjacent edges, and a strip secured to the back- In faces of said outer parts and bridging across f said adjacent edges, said outer parts and strip being secured to the outer faces of said lining parts and said strip covering said zigzag stitches.

5. A shoe tongue comprising a lining including a pair of longitudinally extending parts having concave edges secured in butting relation by zigzag stitches, a pair of longitudinally extending outer parts having concave confronting iinished adjacent edges, and a two Way elastic stretch strip securedto the back faces of sa-id outer parts and bridging across said adjacent' edges, said outer parts and strip being secured to the outer faces of said lining parts, said strip covering said zigzag stitches. 

